“This is un-American and unlawful”: Kern County advocates stands against ICE operations

January 14, 2025 /

Several Kern County community organizations held a Know Your Rights press conference at the Liberty Bell in downtown Bakersfield on January 13 to address the impact of recent immigration enforcement actions by Border Patrol in Kern County last week.

Speakers included; Bakersfield defense attorney H.A. “Beto” Sala, the Immigration Legal Services Director at the UFW Foundation Ambar Tovar, President and CEO of Building Healthy Communities Kern (BHC) Reyna Olaguez, California State University Board of Trustee Raji Brar, Ward 2 City Councilman Andre Gonzalez, and the Executive Director of the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) Camila Chavez.

“We will not stand by while our families, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and community members get attacked just because of their immigration status,” said Tovar from UFW. 

She expressed her commitment to resisting deportations and unlawful detentions. Also, UFW and its partners will take action to protect immigrants’ rights.

UFW Foundation is offering regular Know Your Rights sessions at their office every Thursday at 5 p.m. UFW encouraged the community to attend and learn about legal rights during encounters with immigration authorities.

“The United States is a nation formed and built by immigrants. We will not let the cruelty of any administration succeed in tearing apart the very fabric of our society,” Tovar added. 

Bakersfield defense attorney Sala recalled an incident where a U.S. citizen was unlawfully detained by Border Patrol agents in Kern County last week. Sala explained that the agents’ actions were unjustified and led to harassment and harm, including property damage and an unlawful arrest.

“Last week, a Border Patrol agent stopped a U.S. citizen without a founded and objective basis to believe he was unlawfully in the United States. The agents were caught on video puncturing all four tires on his truck, threatening to break his windows, and ultimately unlawfully arresting him for a crime,” Sala said. 

Although the U.S. citizen was ultimately released after the arrest, Sala explained that the damage and violation of constitutional rights had already occurred. 

“This is un-American and unlawful,” Sala said. 

Sala also shared that there will be town hall presentations involving panels of licensed attorneys to inform residents about their constitutional rights when stopped or questioned by Border Patrol or ICE agents on January 14th in Bakersfield at 2240 South Union Ave., and Thursday, January 16th in Arvin at 500 Campus Drive. Both meetings start at 6 p.m. 

As a first-generation Sikh immigrant, Raji Brar acknowledged that many members of the Sikh community in Kern County are in the immigration process, holding green cards or applying for them, and are deeply affected by the climate of fear.

“After the situation last week here in Kern County, which was really terrifying, folks in our community are concerned, scared, and frightened. Many have stayed home, not gone to work, and are just unaware of their rights,” Brar said. 

Brar explained that immigrants come to this country because they believe in the rule of law and escape countries where there’s an abuse of power. But what they saw last week was a clear abuse of power, which she described as “frightening” and “un-American.”

“I never thought I would see what I saw last week—a U.S. citizen detained, treated demoralizingly, and then let go. It’s time that we pay attention before things get worse,” Brar said. 

Brar announced that the Immigration Justice Collaborative would be visiting local gurdwaras in Bakersfield to provide a safe space for the Sikh community to ask questions and learn about their rights, with translators available to assist.

Camila Chavez said the Dolores Huerta Foundation is proud to stand in solidarity with all of the organizations and the overwhelming support that they saw from their Kern County neighbors.

“It was mentioned, people are afraid to go to school, to send their children to school. They’re missing medical appointments,” Chavez said. She also recalled how the fear generated by immigration raids extends beyond just immediate threats to immigration status, impacting access to necessary resources like food.

“We are establishing a volunteer network, and so we’re asking those that are able to help because we have received an overwhelming amount of phone calls from people who want to help…” she shared. “We’re showing our solidarity, and for those who are ready to do more, we’re asking that you sign up with the Rapid Response Network to be a volunteer, to deliver food to anyone who is afraid to go in person and to do other errands.”

To volunteer to deliver food, run errands, and provide essential services for families in Kern County who may be afraid to leave their homes due to immigration enforcement fears contact the Rapid Response Network of Kern: 661-432-2230 for details.

Haley Duval

Haley is a reporter for Kern Sol News since December of 2023. She was born and raised in East Bakersfield and went to Foothill High School. Haley studied Journalism at Bakersfield College. When Haley is not reporting, she enjoys writing poetry, reading, traveling and spending time with friends and family. She can be reach at haley@southkernsol.org.